Born on this day – Hal Holbrook:

Hal Holbrook

Actor

Director

Writer

February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021

On this day in movie history - Magnum Force (1973):

Magnum Force

directed by Ted Post,

written by John Milius and Michael Cimino,

based on a story by John Milius,

was released in the United Kingdom on December 13, 1973.
Music by Lalo Schifrin.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Mitchell Ryan, David Soul, Tim Matheson, Kip Niven, Robert Urich, Felton Perry, Maurice Argent, Margaret Avery, Richard Devon, Tony Giorgio, Jack Kosslyn, Bob March, Bob McClurg, John Mitchum, Russ Moro, Clifford A. Pellow, Albert Popwell, Christine White, Adele Yoshioka, Clarence 'Buzz' Anderson, Don Anderson, Susheela Asregadoo, Nina B. Blake, Kenneth Boyd, John Bracci, Marcia Brandwynne, Christopher Brooks, Art Brown, Jeff Carter, Willie Carter, Al Cingolani, Reuben Collins, Cab Covay, Paul D'Amato, Michael L. Davis, Brenda Dennis, Cash Earley, Aaron Edwards, Drew Eshelman, Debra A. Estok, Robert Feero, Peter Fitzsimmons, Ray K. Goman, Joseph Gostanian, Nicholas Grabien, Wayne Grace, J. Peter Hanson, Lisa Herman, Barbara Herring, Will Hutchins, Jay Jacobus, George R. Kalange, Gwyn Karon, Craig Kelly, Edgy Lee, John Lester, Lucy Lowry, Bruce Mackey, Ron Magers, Angela May, Linda McClure, Ricci McGee, Terence McGovern, Janet McGrath, Don Michaelian, Joe Miksak, Lynn Mortensen, Niels Mortensen, Bruce Neckels, Eugene A. Nelson, Ben Niems, Tom O'Neill, Rudy Ortega, Tony Piazza, Charles Raino, George Reading, Jack Rosenblaum, Ray Saunders, Jack Schmidt, Robert E. Simpson, Karna Small, Melvina Smedley, Windrim Smith, Suzanne Somers, Owen Spann, William Swan, Steve Treacy, Robert Trebor, Ed Vasgersian, Conni Venturi, John Vick, Robert V.R. Ware, Carl Weathers, Johnny Weissmuller Jr., Joseph Whipp, William L. Williams, Phil Wilson, Jeff Wynne.

On this day in movie history - The Star Chamber (1983):

The Star Chamber

directed by Peter Hyams,

written by Roderick Taylor and Peter Hyams,

based on a story by Roderick Taylor,

was released in the United States on August 5, 1983.
Music by Michael Small.

Cast:

Michael Douglas, Hal Holbrook, Yaphet Kotto, Sharon Gless, James Sikking, Joe Regalbuto, Don Calfa, John DiSanti, Otis Day, Jack Kehoe, Larry Hankin, Dick Anthony Williams, Margie Impert, Dana Gladstone, David Proval, Robin Gammell, Matthew Faison, Fred McCarren, Michael Ensign, Jason Bernard, Jerry Taft, Michael Austin, Sheldon Feldner, James Margolin, Hexin E. McPhee, Diana Douglas, Keith Buckley, Domingo Ambriz, Frances Bergen, Charlie Stavola, Robert Costanzo, Paul Brennan, Kate Zentall, George Cooper, Gary Rebstock, David Faustino, Jason Tomarken, George Dickerson, Eddy C. Dyer, John C. Garrett, Danna Hyams, Alan Oliney, Don Pulford, Ron Cummins, Jack Slate, David Armstrong, Robert Board, Robert Buckingham, Fritzi Burr, Robert Cole, George Lane Cooper, Paul DeCeglie, Ken DuMain, Brent Dunsford, Len Felber, George Golden, Raven Grey Eagle, Charles Hallahan, Bob Harks, Robert Hitchcock, George Holmes, Ethelreda Leopold, Phil Niekro, Betty Oakland, Norman Palmer, Leoda Richards, Arnold Roberts, Hank Robinson, Roberto Rodriguez, Bernard Sell, Robert Strong, Paul Van, Richard Wakasa, Tom Willett.

On this day in movie history - The Firm (1993 movie & novel):

The Firm

directed by Sydney Pollack,

written by David Rabe, Robert Towne and David Rayfiel,

based on the novel by John Grisham,

was released in the United States on June 23, 1993.
Music by Dave Grusin.

Cast:

Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman, Hal Holbrook, Terry Kinney, Wilford Brimley, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, David Strathairn, Gary Busey, Steven Hill, Tobin Bell, Barbara Garrick, Jerry Hardin, Paul Calderon, Jerry Weintraub, Sullivan Walker, Karina Lombard, Margo Martindale, John Beal, Dean Norris, Lou Walker, Debbie Turner, Tommy Cresswell, David A. Kimball, Don Jones, Michael Allen, Levi Frazier Jr., Brian Casey, William J. Parham, Victor Nelson, Richard Ranta, Janie Paris, Frank Crawford, Bart Whiteman, David Dwyer, Mark W. Johnson, Jerry Chipman, Jimmy Lackie, Afemo Omilami, Clint Smith, Susan Elliott, Erin Branham, Ed Connelly, Joey Anderson, Deborah Thomas, Tommy Matthews, Chris Schadrack, Jeffrey Buckner Ford, Jonathan Kaplan, Rebecca Glenn, Terri Welles, Greg Goossen, Jeane Aufdenberg, Bill Booth, Lannie McMillan Quartet, Ollie Nightingale, Teenie Hodges, Little Jimmy King, James White.

Recommended reading:

The Firm

By John Grisham.

Filmed as The Firm (1993), directed by Sydney Pollack.

Published by Vintage.

Published 1991.

ISBN-10: 0440245923

ISBN-13: 9780440245926

Description:

Mitch McDeere has worked hard to get where he is: third in his class at Harvard Law. Aggressively recruited by all the top firms, and initially headed for Wall Street, Mitch surprises everyone by joining Bendini, Lambert & Locke, a very private, very rich tax firm in Memphis. Mitch and his wife, Abby, move to Tennessee and quickly settle into their new life: they’re young, happy, and on the fast track. Or so they think.

Soon, though, Mitch senses trouble: two of the partners die in a suspicious diving accident off Grand Cayman; the firm’s management is overly proud of the fact that no one has ever resigned; and security measures at the firm, even for a company with billionaire clients, are more than a little stringent. Then, suddenly, Mitch’s vague suspicions come to life.

The FBI has the lowdown on Mitch’s firm and needs his help. Now Mitch is caught between a rock and a hard place. The FBI will bust him if he doesn’t cooperate, and the firm will kill him if he does. There’s no way out.

Or is there?